Immediate Family

About Elizabeth Seaman

Descendants of Capt. John Seaman of Hempstead, Long Island, NY according to Mary Thomas Seaman: 1928

Judge Benjamin4 Seaman (Benjamin3, Benjamin2, John1) was born February 11, 1719/20 in Westbury, Long Island, NY (Source: Hinshaw, William Wade, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1991), 3:443.), and died Aft. August 4, 1785 in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada (Source: Seaman, Mary Thomas, The Seaman Family in America..., (New York: TA Wright, 1928), 293 "Errata", The date 1781 as stated of the death of Judge Benjamin Seaman is incorrect although given in original manuscript and family records. Judge Seaman was in New York in 1783. He announced his intentions to remove to Nova Scotia, and was one of the fifty-five petitioners for grants of land in that Colony. His name appears on a Muster Roll at Granville in 1784. He is buried at St. John, New Brunswick; the inscription on his tomb gives no dates of birth or death.). He married Elizabeth Mott 1743 in Great Neck, Long Island, NY (Source: Seaman, Mary Thomas, The Seaman Family in America..., (New York: TA Wright, 1928), 56.), daughter of Adam Mott and Mary Stillwell. She was born 1720 in Westbury, Long Island, NY (Source: Seaman, Mary Thomas, The Seaman Family in America..., (New York: TA Wright, 1928), 78.), and died September 7, 1781 in New York City, NY (Source: Seaman, Mary Thomas, The Seaman Family in America..., (New York: TA Wright, 1928), 78.).

Fact 2: May 31, 1757, Mentioned as bondsman for the will of Abraham Poillion of Richmond County, NY (Source: Scott, Kenneth, Genealogical Data from New York Administration Bonds 1753-1799, (New York: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1969), 110, Poillion, Abraham, of Richmond Co., farmer - Adm. (31 May 1757) John Poillion and James Guyon - Bd: John Poillion, farmer, James Guyon, Esq., and Benjamin Seaman, Esq., all of Richmond Co.)

Fact 9: 1783, Event, year, place: Living, 1783 (Source: Wilson, Isaiah W., A Geography and History of the County of Digby, Nova Scotia, (Reprint of the 1900 ed. published by Holloway Bros., Halifax, N.S. Belleville, Ontario: Mika Studio, 1972), 67, Under date August 1, 1783, Sir Guy Carleton enclosed to Governor Parr, the Memorial of the following "Gentlemen, Clergy, and Merchants" of New York, where Sir G. Carleton then resided, representing themselves as loyal British subjects "who therefore" were "compelled to leave their homes," desiring to live under the English Government, applied for a Grant of Lands in Nova Scotia: John Watson, David Seabury, Andrew Bell, Christopher Billop. A. Willard, William Wanton, Benjamin Seaman, Richard Seaman,... This application was dated "New York, July 22, 1783." A Town Plot named "New Edinburgh," after the Capital of Scotland; of which Country Anthony Stewart, their Agent, and other Applicants were natives, was ordered to be surveyed for them by Hon. Charles Morris, assisted by Stephen Jones and Samuel Goldsbury, Esquires, as Commissioners specially appointed by the Governor. This is the patent named in Halliburton's Provincial History....")

Benjamin Seaman was a member of the 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, Colonial Assembly, 1756 to 1775; Surrogate 1759; County Judge 1775. "At the opening of the Revolutionary struggle he was on the side of resistance to parliamentary tyranny and was Chairman of Correspondence when war began, but later became, with his children and father-in-law, an active loyalist, and moved to Nova Scotia, at the end of the war. In 1784 they settled at Granville, Annapolis, Nova Scotia. His property on Staten Island was confiscated by an act of the New York Legislature in 1776, as was the property of his son-in-law, Colonel Christopher Billopp."

"The old Seaman homestead at Glen Ridge (Staten Island) stood off the Fresh Kill road, just east of the road leading to Eltingville. It was originally of Dutch style of architecture, and at some time had been partially changed to that of Gothic. How many generations of the Seaman family had occupied it, we are unable to say. We know, however, that is was the home of Judge Benjamin Seaman, the last Colonial Judge of Staten Island, and that after his departure with the Loyalists in 1783; it passed to other members of the family, probably by purchase, for it was seized by the Government and sold.

Judge Seaman was the father of the second wife of Colonel Christopher Billopp. Several years ago the writer conversed with an old colored woman, whose mother, a slave in the Seaman family, had witnessed in this old house the marriage of Colonel Billopp and Jane Seaman.

The Seaman Estate was purchased in 1880, and when a new residence was erected the old Seaman homestead was demolished. It stood on historic ground, and adjoined the church and graveyard of the "French Congregation."

The date 1781 stated of the death of Judge Benjamin Seaman is incorrect although given in original manuscript and family records. Judge Seaman was in New York in 1783. He announced his intentions to remove to Nova Scotia, and was one of the fifty-five petitioners for grants of land in that Colony. His name appears on a Muster Roll at Granville in 1784. He is buried at St. John, New Brunswick; the inscription on his tomb gives no dates of birth or death.

In a letter attached as an appendix [p.288] to Mary Thomas Seaman's book there is a letter from E. Claude Goddard [no date given]: My dear Miss Seaman: I have just received from St. John, New Brunswick, a certified copy of the Will of Judge Benjamin Seaman, dated August 4th, 1785. Proved September 26th, 1785. A copy is herewith enclosed.

The children named therein, in the order of birth, agree with the list you kindly sent me, with the exception of Elizabeth, wife of Robert Stewart (whose name does not appear on list). There were apparently two daughters named Elizabeth; the first, third child, born 1747, died 1748, the second, who was the ninth child, must have been born 1759 or 1760.

John the eighth child, was born 4-12-1758, died 10-5-1826. His wife Rebecca, born 10-15-1773, died 11-5-1845. (St. Andrew's Church Records, Richmond, Staten Island, New York)

William, the eleventh youngest child, was born 1763, died 12-14-1835. (New York commercial Advertiser, December 15th, 1835)

I have been unable to find any record of the birth, death, or marriage of Elizabeth Benson, wife of William.

There is more recently published information on this branch of the Seaman family in: